Teenagers

I honestly think that these days teenagers are under much more pressure than ever! Tonight, my second big girl has asked me to let her go camping with her friends in a field! We have had the same question six months ago and I thought that at the time our view was clear: it was a 'no' because of safety reason! So I am thinking, why tonight ? It is such a nice evening, not too demanding, (apart from the obstinate pile of ironing to do but i'm stubborn too and i'm ignoring it as well)..and then that, so more explanations why, not safe, this is because we care for you, and after all my repetitive points my precious Jewel said 'then you don't love me, mum, my life is not worth living' and there must have been ten of those statements.
Pause.
She went upstairs in her room so I turned to Jesus and asked for help.
I knew that on my own I cannot handle this situation! I waited for a few minutes. I went upstairs too in my tiny office and then went to see her. She was upset, tears were pouring down..this is when I remembered how hard it is to be told what you can do and can't do and appreciate what you are allowed to do. We talked, laughed, and somehow, i'm not sure why ended up to eat poached eggs! She went to bed early and we prayed together. Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and keep us close to your love.
In Jesus'name. Amen. Blessings to you all.

Lack of wisdom...

One day a man went to an auction. While there, he bid on an exotic parrot. He really wanted this bird, so he got caught up in the bidding. He kept on bidding, but kept getting outbid, so he bid higher and higher and higher. Finally, after he bid way more than he intended, he won the bid - the fine bird was finally his! As he was paying for the parrot, he said to the Auctioneer, "I sure hope this parrot can talk. I would hate to have paid this much for it, only to find out that he can't talk!" "Don't worry", said the Auctioneer, "He can talk. Who do you think kept bidding against you?"

Back from our week in Norfolk

We had a lovely week in Norfolk. The first night we stayed in Dad's drive as the campsite we were booked in was full. In the evening after a chinese take away, we were  just talking when the phone rang and Dad picked it up. Now he looked at us so puzzled that we asked him if anything was wrong! In fact, Pauline, the Welsh princess had told him to make her a cupper! We thought he said copper..2 minutes later, a car passes by the window and to our surprise Pauline appeared. We were so pleased as it seemed ages we hadn't seen her..
On the Monday, we went to our campsite in Dersingham. Pauline and Dad came with us. However as Steven was putting on the water in the caravan, Pauline who was outside the caravan noticed a leak under the kitchen sink. The water filter was broken! After spending two hours trying to fix the problem, Steven decided that we had to get a new water filter and as time was ticking, we would get one the following day! Other caravaners helped him to and supported him, which is so reconforting!  So no bbq that night but a tasty bolognaise prepared by the duo, Steven and his sister.!
I pause now as I am so tired. Have a blessed night everyone! God bless.

Have a blessed Easter!

May the joy of the resurrection fill your hearts this Easter!
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Those words are so reassuring and give me comfort and hope in my everyday life. I hope that you find equally peace and joy and these allow to sail through the turmoil of the world. Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

Why choose Jesus?

Spring is around at last!

Last week-end, Steven fitted a bird box designed for blue tits by our brother Ron (Gayton church) and a few hours later, truly enough, it was examined thoroughly by two bluetits! 

Some time before that, we had a breakfast service with sausages and bacon on the menu not forgetting vegetarian sausages, kindly cooked by our youth leader Cathy.. all the bacon disappeared fairly quickly and there were only three sausages left!

Then we celebrated Camille's 20th birthday in the best Indian restaurant in the area, in Stone. I cannot believe my little girl is already twenty and as she reminded me not a teenager. Tomorrow, Imogen and I are going to Manchester to spend the morning with her, she works in the afternoon...At the moment she is so busy studying that I am grateful for the little time we spend together. 

Hot news.. Verity bought her car last week-end, a Renault Clio and was so pleased about it. 

Have a blessed week-end!

Mrs Beamish..

This week-end!

Tomorrow, we are off to Bolton to see Verity..she's just passed her driving test last week and is over the moon as you can imagine! I will show her those photos of funny road signs!
Have a blessed week-end!

Hot spot!

Freedom of worshipping our Lord

The team service happened last Sunday! It was held in the lovely church of Weston and well attended by the other 9 churches of the Mid-Trent team and the methodist church !

On Saturday, the children prepared songs and a drama on the theme of freedom. Their performance was deeply refreshing and spontaneous.

I cherish the fact that in the U.K. we can still praise the  Lord publicly, gather with our brothers, sisters, elders and leaders for prayers, praise and communion. 

More photos, showing the two-hour preparation behind it all! :

We all had such an enjoyable  time thus strenghtening our fellowship. Praise the Lord, in Jesus name!Have a blessed week-end!

Mum, don't worry but...

I have lost my mobile!
When, how? my voice goes in the treble..
Well, we went out to this club last night and there was a weirdo  there.. anyway, when we left, he was walking behind us
and ? 
and we ran and this is how I lost my mobile..
This phone conversation happened yesterday at 11 a.m. Camille rang earlier on but none of us picked it up and she left a message on the answering machine..
Don't you worry for your children at times! 
She finishes:
So don't worry, I am going to work and I will call at the Orange shop to see what they can do.
OK. It's not the first time it has happened so fair enough, I am not going to worry!
That evening Camille rings me again. 
Orange says they are going to replace it, it'll cost me £60.00 and they ll send it to me really quickly..oh, i forgot,  i'll have to pay £6.00 insurance for 4 months..I'm having diner now..so I'll speak to you later...
Fine! Do you think it is the end of it?  not quite! 
Today, after our team service, there is another message asking me to ring her at work. So I ring her..
Mum, they were supposed to come this morning and I never heard the bell ring..I hope they wont give me a fine!
Have they left their card saying they came by ? 
No!
In that case, you should not have to pay a fine. Get in touch later. Love you.!


I am sure that I am not the only parent involved in a phone saga. Those mobiles have a habit of disappearing, falling in the gutter, reappearing under the sofa...Personally I would  not like being on a contract as they last for 12 or 18 months and you can end up paying much more that the original £35 a month.  Other parents also wonder why those networks couldn't text the users of the mobiles giving them a warning when they are about to go over the limit. Food for thoughts ? Have a blessed sunday.

The visit of a Welsh princess.

At last our sister Pauline came to visit us. She drove all the way from Rhondda, in South Wales last Sunday. We were overjoyed to see her as the last time was for Dad's 80th birthday..On Monday, we went swimming. This was a shock to the system as neither of us had been for a long time! We had a bbq, courtesy of Steven..

On Thursday, we went to an Italian restaurant in Stone, Pasta di Piazza.  I do recommend it. The menu is excellent and the food very tasty!

On Saturday, we went for a walk in Cannock Chase. It is a beautiful place. I did see deers once on my way to work last year but none could be seen this time.

Red deer (credit Jenny Surry)

Group of stags..(credit Chris Blackburn)..

On Thursday, Steven and Pauline went to Cosford, the RAF place. Did you enjoy it Pauline ? Err, yeah ...of course.. Well, we had a wonderful week and we praised the Lord for it.

Humour 4

I found the following joke on the Dornoch Cathedral website !
A Blonde was sent on her way to Heaven. Upon arrival, a concerned Peter met her at the Pearly Gates. “I’m sorry,” Peter said, “But Heaven is suffering from an overload of goodly souls and we have been forced to put up an Entrance Exam for
new arrivals to ease the burden of Heavenly Arrivals.”
“That’s cool” said the blonde, “What does the Entrance Exam consist of?”
“Just three questions” said Peter.
“Which are?” asked the blonde.
“The first,” said Peter, “is, which two days of the week start with the letter T? The second is How many seconds are there in a year? The third is What is the name of the swagman in Waltzing Matilda?”
“Now,” said Peter, “Go away and think about those questions and when I call you, I shall expect you to have those answers for me.”
So the blonde went away and gave those three questions some considerable thought (I expect you to do the same).
The following morning, Peter called upon the blonde and asked if she had considered the questions, to which she replied ”I have.”
“Well then,” said Peter, “Which two days start with the letter T?”
The blonde said, “Today and Tomorrow.”
Peter pondered this answer for some time, and decided that indeed the answer can be applied to the question.
“Well then, could I have your answer to the second of the three questions?” Peter went on, “how many seconds in a year?”
The blonde replied “Twelve!”
“Only twelve?” exclaimed Peter, How did you arrive at that figure?”
“Easy,” said the blonde, “there’s the second of January, the second of February, right through to the second of December, giving a total of twelve seconds.”
Peter looked at the blonde and said “ I need some time to consider your answer before I can give you a decision.” And he walked away shaking his head.
A short time later, Peter returned to the blonde. “I’ll allow the answer to stand, but you need to get the third and final question absolutely correct to be allowed into Heaven. Now, can you tell me the answer to the name of the swagman in Waltzing Matilda?”
The blond replied: “Of the three questions, I found this the easiest to answer. “Really!” exclaimed Peter, “And what is the answer?”
“It’s Andy.” “Andy?”
“Yes, Andy,” said the blonde.
This totally floored Peter, and he paced this way and that, deliberating the answer. Finally, he could not stand the suspense any longer, and turning to the blonde, asked “How did you arrive at THAT answer?” ”Easy” said the blonde,
Andy sat, Andy watched, Andy waited til his billy boiled.”


And the blonde entered Heaven…
***What’s worse I bet you are now singing it to yourself!!!!!!
Have a blessed week-end!

Elsie' s 80th birthday

Meet Elsie, in the center, she had an open day at her house to celebrate

 her 80th birthday. Of course Joan is holding the mistletoe...

We all had a fun and relaxing time chatting.. Here are a few photos...

The Christingle

I  must confess that where I used to live, in the Isle of Man, we did not have a Christingle service. If you are in the same case, let me explain what it is about. The tradition of making Christingles comes to us from Moravia, where the first Christingle service was held on Christmas Eve, 1747. A Christingle comprises of
· an orange - This represents the world in which we live that God created.
· a red ribbon - This is tied around the orange and represents the blood which Jesus shed for us.
· four cocktail sticks - These are placed around the orange and represent the four seasons.
· nuts, fruit or sweets - These are placed on the ends of the 4 cocktail sticks and represent the fruits of the earth which God provides.
· a lighted candle - This is placed in the centre of the orange and represents Jesus Christ the Light of the World.
During the service, the candles are lit and the following is read:
In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
In him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
The true light, which gives light to everyone,
came into the world. (John 1:5)
Glory to the newborn king.
Jesus, the light of the world.
God is light,
in him there is no darkness at all.
Although darkness covered the earth
and the people lived in thick darkness,
God's glory appeared over us
Preparing the Christingles takes a bit of time!

Blessings to all of you!